What was it that put the American physicists in an uproar?a)The discov...
The American physicists were alarmed by the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin. This discovery revealed that nuclear reactions could release a tremendous amount of energy, raising fears that Nazi Germany might develop an atomic bomb. This concern spurred the American physicists and the U.S. government to accelerate their own research and development of nuclear weapons.
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What was it that put the American physicists in an uproar?a)The discov...
C) The discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin is the right answer in my opinion .....
What was it that put the American physicists in an uproar?a)The discov...
The correct answer is option 'C' - The discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin.
Explanation:
Nuclear fission is the process in which the nucleus of an atom is split into two smaller nuclei, releasing a huge amount of energy. The discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin in the late 1930s caused an uproar among American physicists for several reasons.
1. Berlin as a Scientific Hub:
Berlin, Germany, was a major center for scientific research and had some of the world's leading physicists at that time. The discovery of nuclear fission was made by German scientists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1938. This breakthrough in Berlin put German scientists at the forefront of nuclear research and raised concerns among American physicists about the potential military applications of this discovery.
2. Fear of German Advancement:
During the 1930s, Germany was under Nazi rule, and there were growing concerns about the militarization of German science. The discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin led American physicists to worry that German scientists could potentially develop atomic weapons, which could pose a significant threat to the United States and its allies. This fear of German advancement in nuclear technology created an uproar among American physicists.
3. Einstein's Warning:
Albert Einstein, who was a German-born physicist but had emigrated to the United States due to the rise of the Nazis, had warned President Franklin D. Roosevelt about the possibility of Germany developing atomic weapons. Einstein's letter, known as the Einstein-Szilard letter, urged the United States to initiate its own research into atomic weapons. The discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin further reinforced Einstein's concerns and added urgency to the need for American physicists to act.
4. Implications for the United States:
The discovery of nuclear fission held immense potential for both beneficial and destructive applications. American physicists realized that harnessing nuclear energy could lead to the development of atomic power, which could revolutionize the way energy is produced. However, there were also ethical and moral concerns about the destructive power of atomic weapons. The discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin heightened these concerns and sparked intense debates among American scientists about the responsible use of nuclear energy.
In conclusion, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin caused an uproar among American physicists due to fears of German advancement in nuclear technology, the potential for atomic weapons, and the need to initiate their own research into atomic energy.
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